mjbach
Active Member
- Joined
- July 26, 2000
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Apple Valley, MN
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 95 EB and 97XLT SOHC 4.0
I've read that others have the same problem both our Explorers had. When you turn on the headlights, the radio control lights go out (not the radio display or clock). Just the lights on the buttons that control the CD/Radio, etc.
When the radio control lights blink off with the headlights turned on, you can no longer see the O/D light indicator or the 4WD light indicator unless you turn off the headlights. This is a pain in the behind, especially at night.
We stumbled onto the fix. I searched here and other websites and saw no definitive answer so will post here what the problem was. Sorry if it's a repeat.
It was the dimmer switch just to the right of the headlamp/light switch. Perhaps your dimmer isn't totally shot yet and you can wiggle it from side to side and get the radio control lights to come off and on. This will prove to you that you're close to the problem.
We were able to get one at the junk yard for $5. This was after replacing the multifunction switch and the headlamp turn on switch--for no reason--and bought from Ford. You can learn from our mistakes!
You have to take the dash loose to get at the switch. You might be able to do it without taking the whole thing out but be careful not to break the switch if you try the shortcut.
When the radio control lights blink off with the headlights turned on, you can no longer see the O/D light indicator or the 4WD light indicator unless you turn off the headlights. This is a pain in the behind, especially at night.
We stumbled onto the fix. I searched here and other websites and saw no definitive answer so will post here what the problem was. Sorry if it's a repeat.
It was the dimmer switch just to the right of the headlamp/light switch. Perhaps your dimmer isn't totally shot yet and you can wiggle it from side to side and get the radio control lights to come off and on. This will prove to you that you're close to the problem.
We were able to get one at the junk yard for $5. This was after replacing the multifunction switch and the headlamp turn on switch--for no reason--and bought from Ford. You can learn from our mistakes!
You have to take the dash loose to get at the switch. You might be able to do it without taking the whole thing out but be careful not to break the switch if you try the shortcut.
